Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are severe autoimmune disorders that frequently affect young adults and may be complicated by the development of cancer. Worldwide 5 million people are suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – diseases known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In recent years, cell therapy is applied increasingly often in the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: immunosuppression followed by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells administration, exerting immunosuppressive effect.

Worldwide more than 1,500 patients with inflammatory bowel disease were treated with mesenchymal stem cells.

May 19 is a World IBD Awareness Day, which is held by patients’ organizations in 35 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, 28 European countries, Japan, New Zealand, Israel.

In Ukraine, Association of cryobanks joins international initiatives to support World IBD Day and draws attention of the society, gastroenterologists, surgeons, proctologists and other professionals to the active implementation of cell therapy into the protocols for treatment of the forms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, resistant to anticytokine therapy.

Based on materials: http://www.worldibdday.org/, http://efcca.org/, http://stemcellclinic.com